The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-14
A QUESTION OF IDENTITY.
Trying to Ascertain Who 1t Was that Conh-
denced Farmer Deputy Out of $4,000.

Special 20 the INDIANAPOLIS Journal
BRowNsTowN. Ind, Dec. 13-The trial OF
Ed. Rice, Charles Stewart and George Mason
the three Detroit confidence men charged with
robbing farmer Zachariah D equity of $4,000 dur
ing the summer, was called in special court
session here, yesterday, Judge Collins having
appointed Dec. II as the time for hearing the
case which has not had a parallel. probably,
in the State. Upon the result of the trial hangs
the liberty of six men, three men-Parker,
Forbes and kearns-were convicted at the Au-
gust term of court here upon the same charge.
The defendants have d. W. Voorhees,. John E.
Lamb and Byford E. Long their counsel
The State is represented by D. H. Long, prose-
cutor; VIM. Z. Brannaman and VIM. K. Mar
shall, while Jaeon B. Brown and Green Smith,
attorneys for Parker. Forbes and Kearns
assisting.
The first day was spent in empanelug jury
Many objections being made by both sides
The prisoners on trial are known throughout the
United States and in Canada big Ed Rice"
Fatty Stewart, and Punch" Mason. and are
considered experts in their profession. glance
at the prisoners convince that they are
not common criminals. Rice and Mason have
the appearance of well-bred gentlemen, and
would be taken for well-to-do business men.
Stewart has a more vicious countenance; he IS
heavy set, with small head. A late number
of the Police Gazette contains correct pictures of
Mason and Stewart, as charged with being the
men who robbed an aged farmer named Edward
Copeland of So. 900, near Batavia, n Y, by ex-
actly the same game that was played upon Dep
uty.
Zacharlah Deputy is bachelor aged about
fifty years. He resides on one of his farms In
Jennings county, and is well off,. he was
never known to dress in the fashion, is very
close listed and eccentric but his weakness for
betting on other men g games has marked him
as fine subject for confidence men and ''ounko-
steerers," and has cost him many hard-earned
dollar
On the 17tn day of last June a stranger
came to Deputv's residence with a horse and
buggy, claiming to be in search of a farm.
His father-in-law, he said, was rich banker,
and would buy it for him regardless of cost
He had taken great fancy to Deputys farm,
Deputy in good shape left, promising to
return next day with his father-in-law to look at
the farm. The next day the two men arrived,
and while examining the farm. third stranger
rode up to Deputy and the land
buyers, and introduced himself as an agent for
q certain Bible, and claimed he wanted sub
would be employed-an approached Deputy,
who, not being of biblical turn of mind"
would not bite Finally the Bible man pro-
duced some cards and what appeared to be a
valise full of money. and opened out a
lottery scheme. The land-huyers. after
much refusing and great persuasion, bet on
a card each and won clever sums and were
promptly paid soon they showed they had
az amount equal to their winnings. which they
could have paid had they lost Mr. Deputy.
seeing this concluded to try his luck. He was
wild with delight when informed that he had
won So 000 but he must show that amount be-
fore being paid At the suggestion of the strangers
he Immediately started for Seymour, ten miles
distant to borrow the money. he was accom-
panied by of the land buyers. Deputy Dor
rowed the So, 900 at the First National Bank, OF
Seymour, telling the officers OF that institution
he was making land trade, while the man who
accompanied him waited in the east
part of the city, in front OF the
Farmers and Drovers saloon. Several per-
sons noticed the strange man as he sat in
the buggy waiting for Deputy, and they are
among the most important witnesses in the case.
When Deputy got back with the s.. 900 the lot
terv man got the money in his hands lust to
count" and Immediately departed, followed by
the land buyers. Their buggies which had been
hired at North Vernon. were sent back from
point Madison, where it is supposed the trio
crossed the river into Kentucky.
About month after the robbery three men,
Parker, Forbes and Kerns supposed to be the
robbers were arrested at Terre Haute They
were identified by Deputy and the hveryman at
North Vernon, and at the trial by several who
AS stated above, they were convicted, although
several who saw the robbers at that time, failed
to identify Parker. Forbes and Kerns, and say
now Rice Stewart and Mason are the men.
After conviction the three gave information,
and one of them filed affidavit. which led to
the arrest of Rice and his pals in Detroit,
Mich. their home. Pinkertons assisted the au-
thorities at Detroit, and Sheriff Byrne. of this
county, was three weeks getting possession OF
the men, being hindered by habeas corpus pro-
ceedings. Being refused writ the men made a
dash for liberty from the courtroom, and, al
though lroned, made vicious fight against the
officers.
Parker, Forbes and Kerns arrived here to-day
from the Prison South. in charge of two deputy
wardens, to give testimony in the case. Court
to-day was held with closed doors. and the wit
pesses were separated Deputy was on the stand
all forenoon, and it is understood that he still
| insists the first three Iarrested-Parker. Forbes
| and Kerns-are the men who got his money.
1t is certain the witnesses differ in regard to
| the identity of the men in about equal proper
ton. Several detectives and sheriffs are here
ready to arrest either of the trio, il liberated.
| The sheriff of Genesee county, New York,
wants Rice, Stewart and Mason. The sheriff Of
| Clinton county Ohio also wants a trio.